Children in low income families are often left with little to do for the six-week summer holiday but watch TV and play in the street, according to a Barnardo’s report.

Based on research in south west England, the report suggests the summer holidays are a particularly stressful time for families in poverty as they lose free school meals and have to save money for the extra expenses - such as school uniform - for the new school year in September.

Many children had never had a holiday, and leisure opportunities were scarce.

The report calls for a minimum income standard, entitlement to food benefits during the summer holidays for families on income support and a statutory duty to be placed on local education authorities to ensure that families dependent on income support receive school uniform grants to cover the full cost of essential items.

- Wish You Were Here Barnardo’s, search website at www.barnardos.org.uk